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National Center for Environmental Health (U.S.), Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services., Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch. ;
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ;
United States, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. ;
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National Center for Environmental Health (U.S.), Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services., Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch. ;
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ;
United States, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. ;
United States, Dept. of Health and Human Services. ;
United States, Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. Less ▲

This report identifies and summarizes safety and health issues in manufactured structures based on a wide expanse of research. The end result is a thorough characterization of health and safety hazards in manufactured structures, along with mitigation strategies and discussions of opportunities for health/ safety enhancements and at-risk populations.

Millions of people in America live in manufactured structures--a range of units that includes manufactured homes, travel trailers, camping trailers, and park trailers. Manufactured structures are used for long- term residence; for temporary housing following disasters; for recreational and travel purposes; and also for classrooms, day care centers, and workplaces. Housing is a primary purpose of these structures, with manufactured homes accounting for 6.3% of the housing units in the U.S. and housing 17.2 million persons. Manufactured homes offer flexibility and affordability, and comprise an important part of the U.S. housing stock. Whether used for long-term housing or for short-term shelter following a disaster, for classrooms or for offices, manufactured structures should be safe and healthy for the people who live, work, study, and play in them. With Americans spending the vast majority of their time indoors, it is vital that buildings protect occupants from the elements and provide privacy, comfort, and peace of mind. At the same time, these structures should not present risks to occupant's health and safety due to design, construction, or maintenance problems. This report identifies and summarizes safety and health issues in manufactured structures based on a wide expanse of research. The end result is a thorough characterization of health and safety hazards in manufactured structures, along with mitigation strategies and discussions of opportunities for health/ safety enhancements and at-risk populations. Many of the hazards discussed in this report are not unique to manufactured structures, while other issues have been identified as particular problems for this form of housing. Further, when manufactured structures are used as interim housing following a disaster, additional health/safety issues can arise. The specific topics covered in this report are an introduction to manufactured structures, fire safety, moisture and mold, indoor air quality (IAQ), pests and pesticides, siting and installation, utilities, postdisaster housing, and potential opportunities for future enhancements. The health and safety hazards related to fire safety, moisture and mold, IAQ, pests and pesticides, and other issues generally fall into the categories of design, construction, and maintenance. Thus, for an issue like effective moisture management to prevent mold and related problems, strategies range from good product selection in the design phase to proper grading of the site during construction all the way to regular maintenance of the building envelope after many years of service. Most other health and safety hazards are similar in nature, with multiple parties playing an important role in managing risks from the design of the manufactured home through its use as a home for years to come. Fortunately, the challenges of managing health and safety risks in manufactured structures are well documented, along with appropriate strategies and solutions. This report documents and summarizes this information, with the intent of serving as a comprehensive resource to inform discussions and future decisions regarding the design, construction, maintenance, and deployment of manufactured structures in the United States.

The manual was developed as a follow-up to the Safe and Healthy Manufactured Structures working meeting held on October 17, 2008. Meeting participants representing federal, state, and local government; community and environmental groups; industry; professional associations; and academic institutions reviewed and commented on formative materials for this document.

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